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Waitlisted letter received today (NC). Princeton is the only Ivy S applied to and his first choice.

So now what? How many are waitlisted and does anyone actually get in?

By Daintyponygal (Daintyponygal) on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 01:53 pm: Edit

i got waitlisted too. here's an excerpt from the letter:

"The size of the wait list will be in the range of a few hundred and will change over the next few months as students make other plans. We will not add to the wait list."

"Over the past five years, we have accepted 27, 9, 0, 31, and 76 students, respectively, from the wait list."

Hope that helps! Best of luck to your son!!

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 02:01 pm: Edit

My daughter got waitlisted as well. The info. that Dainty posted is all in the letter your child received so it is pretty well explained. Good luck with your college decisions! I think getting waitlisted there is pretty darn good!

Susan

By bobbyd on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 02:05 pm: Edit

Waitlisted here as well. 76 off the WL last year seems quite encouraging, but I'm wondering how many actually get waitlisted. I'm assuming it must be less than 1,000 kids because the letter said a few hundred, but a few hundred could mean 200 or 800 which is a huge difference. BTW, would something like an USAMO qualification(1st time) be newsworthy enough to send them or do they not want to hear from us anymore?

By happyg on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 02:35 pm: Edit

Thanks to all. S took the letter to work with him before I got home so I haven't seen it. He called me and was concerned that Princeton won't notify waitlistees unti after deposit money is due at his other choices. But I figure the odds of admission are slim, and if he gets in the lost $ will be worth it to him.

By Idonno123 (Idonno123) on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 02:38 pm: Edit

where are you located, happyg?

By happyg on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 02:41 pm: Edit

Located in NC, received letter today (Saturday).

By mfolz on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 03:37 pm: Edit

Through what kind of mail is the waitlist letter sent?

By redbaron86 on Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 09:09 pm: Edit

I was waitlisted yesterday. I'm wondering approximately how many people are on the waitlist, and does it help to have someone (like a principal or teacher) call on your behalf? I want to bolster my chances as much as I can without seeming too desparate. What should I do?

By Johnmayerfan (Johnmayerfan) on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 05:48 pm: Edit

Know of any waitlisters who are NOT sending in the card? any admits who won't go?

How are chances on the waitlist? It says that in the past years they had from like 27,9,0,31,76 (respectively) people taken off the waitlist and that there are usually a couple hundred (how many exactly?) on the waitlist. ANyone know the intricate details about the process? It says it's not ranked, and that they do reconvening committees. How should I approach getting myself off? It says not to send extra stuff unless it's late breaking. Should I send some stuff like my new quarter grades or final grades or notification of my admittance into other schools (not necessarily acceptances, but like who I got likely letters from and how many and who offered me scholarships. For ex.: I got selected as a finalist for a very prestigious natl. schol and I think they might be interested) or how I got promoted to higher leadership positions mid-yr? A new essay? ANyone know anyone who actually got off the waitlist?

please help. I feel like at this point, I'd do anything to get off it

By Runningwolf (Runningwolf) on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 06:10 pm: Edit

I was waitlisted. I don't know any details about the waitlist. I'm just pissed as @#$%.

By Webhappy2 (Webhappy2) on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 07:16 pm: Edit

Hey Bobbyd, I would mention it. I tried to make USAMO this year but it kinda fell apart when I got 108.5 on the AMC12B.


Finally! I was so overjoyed when I got the mail because there was this big envelope in white, and I assumed it was from Pton. I ripped it open, and this packet fell out labelled "Stanford Financial Aid"...!! So I then noticed a small envelope from H (I already knew from email I was rejected) and then I saw another small envelope from Pton. Now I was really nervous because I haven't been waitlisted yet, so I was quite glad to get my first and only waitlist.

I probably won't stay on the waitlist. I'm not angry because I probably wouldn't have gone anyways.

By Webhappy2 (Webhappy2) on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 07:17 pm: Edit

BTW, I'm from Bay Area, CA

By Mazzinator333 (Mazzinator333) on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 07:17 pm: Edit

Last year, Princeton took 27 people off of their waiting list. They put 471 on the list, 298 people accepted spots on the list, and then 27 were subsequently accepted. All this info is from their Common Data Set (they have it from 2000 on). Here is the link:

http://registrar1.princeton.edu/data/common.cfm

Hope it helps. Good luck to you all.

By Ghostman (Ghostman) on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 08:26 pm: Edit

i got waitlisted.

By Lagunaswine (Lagunaswine) on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 11:15 pm: Edit

My nephew was placed on the waiting list, poor soul. Apparently, the letter says not to contact Princeton unless you have late-breaking news. And he of course wants to petition for a spot (Princeton is his first choice.) I therefore join in with the queries of others and ask: can you petition for a spot, even though they expressly request only late-breaking news?

By Runningwolf (Runningwolf) on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 11:57 pm: Edit

I would not send in a letter unless you really do have late-breaking news. They say that it will annoy them, so it probably will.

By Johnmayerfan (Johnmayerfan) on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 12:29 am: Edit

what's "late breaking news" though? how important does it have to be? Thanks Mazzinator! By the way, Runningwolf, hehe, I always thought you were a girl for some reason.

By Mzhang23 (Mzhang23) on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 12:31 am: Edit

Even if there is no news, definitely write them a letter asking them to reevaluate you, stating why Princeton would be a fit for you, and DEFINITELY state that you will matriculate if admitted, if that is your intention.

By Runningwolf (Runningwolf) on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 12:34 am: Edit

oh gee thanks FYI, I am a very manly man!

As for late breaking news, I'm not totally sure myself. I would just say any major honors. If you have won some dinky scholarship, I would not report that. If you, say, won some sort of state level contest (debate, track, whatever) or won a huge scholarship, I'd update them with that. If you want to provide specifics, I'll tell you if I think it's late breaking news. Of course I'm just a random senior like you, but I am fairly confident I know what they mean by late breaking news.

By Johnmayerfan (Johnmayerfan) on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 12:36 am: Edit

Mike-
that's easy for you to say. You got in (hehe)

What doesn't make sense to me is that they've taken people to anticipate a 57% yield (i'm trying to remember what I read in the articles), yet I'm scrolling through past issues of common data sets (the earliest I can get, however, is 2000, anyone have any earlier ones?) and they all say that Princeton had like 70+% yields, yet they still took people off the waitlist...This doesn't make sense to me. Maybe I'm just calculating wrong. And on some of the common data sets, they don't even GIVE numbers for the waitlist. Oh gosh, I swear, please........

By Johnmayerfan (Johnmayerfan) on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 12:40 am: Edit

hmm, well I got promoted to some new offices (like from sec. to vp, etc.) and I won a statewide schol. for 1K (only 2 given in our state) and i'm a finalist for a full schol. at another similar school (really prestigious).

Why would they get annoyed?! I would think this is similar to being deferred...

By Runningwolf (Runningwolf) on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 01:17 am: Edit

They would get annoyed if you were to seem desperate. I definitely wouldn't write to them about the new offices. As for the scholarships, that's your call. If they are really prestigious, by all means send them a letter. If they aren't so prestigious, maybe it would be better to just take a step back and let them decide your fate.

By Johnmayerfan (Johnmayerfan) on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 04:21 pm: Edit

"decide my fate"?!

uh... I don't like the way that sounds

well, I'm not gonna have like a coach wanting to recruit me or anything (runningwolf) so I have to make up in some other part. I've improved a lot since Dec. and I'll have great grades by the end of may.

By Runningwolf (Runningwolf) on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 06:52 pm: Edit

I made the same mistake at first about the 57% acceptance rate. You forgot early decision, which will have close to 100% acceptance rate.

By Johnmayerfan (Johnmayerfan) on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 11:19 pm: Edit

huh? No I meant the 57% YIELD. With all the statistics from past years and considering that they took so many people, plus ED people who have no choice, doesn't that equate to well over a 57% yield?! eek! freakin' out...

By Runningwolf (Runningwolf) on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 11:55 pm: Edit

I meant yield as well... I'm saying they are expecting 57% yield from RD applicants. This is normal. Last year they had like a 73% yield, which is the sum of the ED AND RD pool. 57% RD (bigger pool) plus 100% ED comes out to the 70 or so percent overall yield.

By Johnmayerfan (Johnmayerfan) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 05:33 pm: Edit

omg, so in those articles I read, they said that they are aiming for a 57% yield (is that just RD? is that what you're telling me?) but if they have like a 70% yield, is there any hope for us at all?!

P.S. you sleep kinda late don't you? hehe. Oh and you're not really Dathan, are you?

By Johnmayerfan (Johnmayerfan) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 05:35 pm: Edit

omg, so in those articles I read, they said that they are aiming for a 57% yield (is that just RD? is that what you're telling me?) but if they have like a 70% yield, is there any hope for us at all?!

P.S. you sleep kinda late don't you? hehe. Oh and you're not really Dathan, are you?

By Runningwolf (Runningwolf) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 07:29 pm: Edit

Haha... no I'm not Dathan. I wish. (not really, he's fast but I want to go to Princeton, etc. not run fast)

You have to take time zones into account, but yeah I go to sleep pretty late.

As for the yield thing, they are aiming for, I believe, 72% yield, but that includes the 100% ED yield. They are aiming for 56.6% (I think that's what I calculated) regular decision yield, but that is not out of the ordinary. From what I can gather (which admittedly is not very much, thus I started a Princeton waitlist thread at another site), they usually have 70-75% yield rates (which, again, include early decision). So, if they get 70% yield, then there will be a good bit of waitlist activity. If they get 74% yield, there won't.

By Outlaw (Outlaw) on Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 09:20 pm: Edit

i was waitlisted. I NEED to go. what now..

By Runningwolf (Runningwolf) on Saturday, April 10, 2004 - 02:05 pm: Edit

One good piece of news someone thought of... Princeton might have a lower yield that usual this year due to Yale and Stanford changing to EA. Hopefully, a lot of people were accepted EA at Stanford and Yale and then also were accepted RD at Princeton (for the heck of it or to compare financial aid). Normally, those people would be bound to go to Y/S under the ED program. For many Y/S was their first choice all along, so they will go to Y/S. That will leave more room for waitlisted people. However, some people that got in EA and had Y/S as a definite first choice probably didn't apply anywhere during the regular round. But an example: a girl at my school got in her number one, Stanford, EA, but still applied to like every college in America and got in all but Harvard, so she will most likely turn down a Yale acceptance to go to S. Anyway, just some food for thought.

By Piglette (Piglette) on Saturday, April 10, 2004 - 02:32 pm: Edit

True, Runningwolf, but then consider this:

1. The fact that Princeton's total applicant pool was down this year is inconsistent with your theory that Princeton (may have) received more than the usual number of casual, what-the-heck applications.

2. Those who doubled up on applications in order to compare financial aid may find that Princeton's aid is, in fact, more generous than that at Yale or Stanford. Therefore, it may be that MORE than the usual number of what-the-heck applicants matriculate at Princeton -- they got to have their cake (the EA at Y/S) and also eat it, too (compare Princeton financial aid at no risk to their Y/S acceptance). In other words, potentially generous Princeton financial aid may lure some applicants who, in previous years, would have been "stuck" with Yale or Stanford.

By Runningwolf (Runningwolf) on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 01:30 am: Edit

All good thoughts. I forgot that Pton usually has the best financial aid.

By Johnmayerfan (Johnmayerfan) on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 12:53 pm: Edit

so has anyone sent anything yet or should we wait until after may 1st?

Runningwolf-haven't talked in a while. SO what yield does Princeton ultimately want (rd + ed) b/c Princeton review says their yield is 73% and that's pretty high. I just can't seem to get the right numbers here...

By Cwc2799 (Cwc2799) on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 01:13 pm: Edit

do final grades really have any bearing on waitlist decisions? R u guys all still working hard in school? I mean, if my school ends second week of jun, I don't really see how they can. It's just annoying to have to keep on caring abt grades second sem sen yr. They say they wont go later than Jun, but does anyone know when they actually get done with and how they make decisions?

By Cwc2799 (Cwc2799) on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 01:26 pm: Edit

also, just wondering, where did those of you who were waitlisted at prin get accepted/rejected/waitlisted elsewhere?

By Runningwolf (Runningwolf) on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 12:06 am: Edit

I sent my letter already. I believe they are aiming for 73% yield this year, which is fairly high. Maybe it was 72. I dont really remember, and Im too tired to think. No idea if final grades matter, my guess would be that they do not. But I'm still working hard anyway, because I like school.

By Johnmayerfan (Johnmayerfan) on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 05:02 pm: Edit

so aiming for a high yield means that they'll probably what? take a lot of waitlistees?

Runningwolf-where are you planning to go if Pton falls through?

By Runningwolf (Runningwolf) on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 06:01 pm: Edit

Yes it means they will take a lot of waitlists. I'm almost 100% positive I will go to Columbia if Princeton falls through. Actually, I just visited Columbia for the first time and I loved it so much I'm having second thoughts about Princeton! I am not sure if I'm just too pumped up from being fresh off my visit, but we'll see. Columbia was pretty sweet.

By Johnmayerfan (Johnmayerfan) on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 12:42 pm: Edit

hmm, cool.

I got into Columbia too, but I didn't visit. I think I'll have trouble deciding between Princeton, Duke's scholarship, and Upenn (which promised to match Duke's finaid -which is the best offer i've gotten so far).

Runningwolf- so you think they'll take how many exactly? I'm sorry, I don't quite know how to calculate all these figures.

By Runningwolf (Runningwolf) on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 05:55 pm: Edit

Unfortunately I don't really know how many they'll take. The trend seems to be about 30, so that guess is as good as any. It's just impossible to predict, especially with some factors changing this year (Stanford and Yale went ED, Pton got less apps that usual, etc).

By Redbaron86 (Redbaron86) on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 11:56 pm: Edit

Can I assume that the admissions office will begin to notify waitlisted students of acceptance right after May 1? Or do they actually "deliberate" some more? What would sway them and make them accept someone who was waitlisted?

By Cwc2799 (Cwc2799) on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 03:27 pm: Edit

according to the guidance counciler at my school, pton tends to notify people starting mid-may and can go as late as july 1st. Who they take off all depends on the type of people who accept. They want a balanced class (in terms of gender, region, race, public vs. private school, humanities-oriented vs. math/science-oriented), so they take kids from the waitlist in order to fill the holes left by people who accepted.

By Meth5400 (Meth5400) on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 04:15 pm: Edit

whass really good with this princeton waitlist? i'm all pumped for my other school, but i kinda wanna know-is anyone else anxious? and also, do they call you if the answer is no? i'm scared i may miss the 'yes' call? Is that possible or will they just keep trying?

By Ct04 (Ct04) on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 04:18 pm: Edit

If it makes any of you guys feel better, I sent in my "not waiting, bitches" to princeton a couple days ago... increases your chances by that much :-)

By Johnmayerfan (Johnmayerfan) on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 05:00 pm: Edit

so then I guess a letter of interest is really not needed? I mean, they pretty much said they don't want that much contact with you. WOuld they want to know of your other school that you're going to if you don't get off? what about your accomplishments at that school? for ex: i won a very prestigious award at the school i'm planning to go to, does pton wanna know? but i mean, this is the biggest thing i've ever done, so....

By Meth5400 (Meth5400) on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 07:14 pm: Edit

'biggest thing i've ever done' lol HELL YEA you should let them know (err, maybe you shouldn't, i'd kinda like to get in) But seriously, my ccounselor said if you will attend Princeton-let them know. There is no point in them taking kids off the waitlist who will not come, that certainly is not what they need. As for telling them what school you have enrolled at, unless its a princeton caliber school (HYS) then I dont see why they would care...

By Johnmayerfan (Johnmayerfan) on Monday, May 03, 2004 - 04:45 pm: Edit

well, see the prob is that my award kinda elevates me to that level, so I bet they'll think I'll at least have a hard choice choosing between the two options even if i get off the waitlist. I don't know, though. I feel kinda confident just sitting here b/c my option right now is incredible!

By Kenenisa (Kenenisa) on Monday, May 03, 2004 - 05:01 pm: Edit

I can't help myself... what award did you receive?

By Meth5400 (Meth5400) on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 02:54 pm: Edit

anybody heard anything? penn has already begun to make calls...

By Kenenisa (Kenenisa) on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 06:09 pm: Edit

Haven't heard anything yet, but that's exciting about Penn. Best of luck to everyone. I will be very very happy at Columbia but Princeton is Princeton, and it would certainly please me to get "the call."

By Kenenisa (Kenenisa) on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 06:47 pm: Edit

My dad called the admissions office today to ask if they know anything. They were very nice but insisted that they will not know anything until the end of the month! Maybe they are just being conservative so that they don't make people mad by underestimating how long it'll take. That does seem like a long time. But anyway, just thought people would be interested.

By Esmereldasy (Esmereldasy) on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 12:01 am: Edit

oooh, question. Ok, my friend just got off the NYU waitlist (i know it's not the same type of school, but it might still apply). Ok, they only gave her like ONE DAY to decide whether to go to NYU or not. Um...i can't make a decision that quickly! Does anyone know how much time they give you. I'd really like to visit again before i make a final decision, yaknow?

I was WLed from Princeton, but i'm falling in love with Amherst now. It'd probably be better for me if i didn't get into princeton, because i suck at decisions.

oh well, i guess we'll find out soon enough.

By Kenenisa (Kenenisa) on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 05:43 pm: Edit

Amherst is definitely awesome. It was fairly easily my favorite "small school" that I visited/applied to.

I know (unfortunately not from personal experience) Harvard is giving people a week to decide. Princeton might do the same. Or, then again, they might ask for your decision within a day! Who knows.

By Outlaw (Outlaw) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 04:35 am: Edit

i was taken off the waitlist today!!! yes! a nice admissions man called to tell me and patiently listened to my happy sobs.